web powered by 
Updated 11:31pm - Mar 18, 2010
Home 
Opinion Editorials Coastal Voices Guest Opinion: Good step by schools, ACLU
Coastal Voices Guest Opinion: Good step by schools, ACLU
|
As Director of the Yurok Tribe’s Education Department, I believe it is necessary for the community to know that the newly ratified agreement between the Del Norte County Unified School District and the ACLU appears to be a solid step in the right direction. Last week, it was reported that the school district decided to adopt a number of institutional changes geared toward recognizing the importance of Yurok culture, history and language to the local community. According to the agreement the board is going to introduce Yurok history and language into each school’s curriculum at appropriate grade levels that meet state standards. The district is also going to make sure that all of its staff members are capable of being effective educators in a multicultural setting.
Deliberately omitting our history, language and culture from the school
district’s course offerings is a form of marginalization, which has had
a negative impact on our students and the native community. Native
students and families have felt, and rightly so, that the school
district has not recognized the importance of their place in history
and in contemporary society. This agreement, if implemented correctly,
could effect lasting institutional change that indigenous families have
wanted for many decades.
The Yurok Tribe’s contribution to history should have always been a part of Del Norte’s curriculum. This will give students the sense of place that they deserve. The agreement also creates an avenue for students to learn both local languages. For Yurok people, when it comes to language and culture, you cannot have one without the other. It is also a positive to see that the school district is going to explore measures to address minor discipline issues before they become major discipline problems that require drastic actions such as expulsion. It is a much better approach to have a mechanism in place to intervene in kids’ lives when they first start to act inappropriately than to wait until something really serious happens. We look forward to watching, supporting and assisting the school district as it implements the changes described in the agreement. The school district is in a position to finally become a place where students receive the education they deserve. Jim McQuillen is the Education Director for the Yurok Tribe. |
Triplicate front page
Get home delivery of the Triplicate for only $7.94 a month. After filling out one simple and secure online form you could be on your way to learning more about your city, state and world than you ever have before.
